You are here

New Talks to Finalize Energy Projects

To implement its strategic oil and gas projects, Iran has started a new round of talks with international oil giants, including France's Total and the Netherlands' Royal Dutch Shell.
For expediting its mega oil and gas development projects in the post-sanctions era and regaining its lost market share, Iranian oil officials are either sending delegations to target countries or inviting them to Iran to finalize their previous negotiations.
According to Shana, one of the most important oil officials to visit Iran in the coming days will be Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Pakistan's oil and natural resources minister, who will pay an official visit to Iran at the invitation of National Iranian Oil Ministry to expedite the Iran-Pakistan (IP) pipeline completion.
"Plans have been made to hold talks regarding the implementation of the long-awaited IP pipeline as well as other issues of mutual interests," Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said without elaborating on details.
Pakistan's Oil Ministry had already proposed resumption of talks regarding the key project that was welcomed by Iran.
Asked whether gas price will be discussed in his visit to Tehran or not, Shahid Khaqan noted that as per contract terms, gas price negotiations will be finalized one year prior to injecting Iran's natural gas into the IP pipeline.
Islamabad had previously said it was forced to delay the project in view of international sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Nonetheless, the implementation of Iran's historic nuclear deal seems to have left no further excuse to complete the project.
The pipeline will bring much-needed gas to Pakistan, which suffers from a crippling electricity deficit because of a shortage of fuel for its power plants.
Pakistan's oil minister believes that the two states enjoy considerable economic potentials to develop energy ties, as Pakistani's refineries—which are managed by the private sector—can meet their crude requirements from Iran.
Expressing the country's willingness to complete the project, the official stressed that Pakistan is also interested in purchasing liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas from Iran as his country is in dire need of energy.

Energy Cooperation With Indonesia
An Iranian energy delegation is to visit Jakarta in February to discuss expansion of oil, gas and electricity cooperation, Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said said.
"Indonesia is considering cooperation with Iran mainly in development of energy projects such as oil, gas and renewables," he said.
"Now that sanctions are history, there are ideal opportunities that we should not miss."
Sudirman noted that Iranian experts are capable of implementing petrochemical, electricity and renewable energy projects.
"Iranian investors could also be offered [projects] to build liquid petroleum gas plants," he said.
"No project has been undertaken yet, but an LPG plant and a condensate factory are being studied to be built jointly by Pertamina, Indonesian Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and NIOC."